August 4th, 2021
One of the first decisions many adolescents in Pakistan make during their lives is having to choose their field of study after they transition from Matric to Intermediate. It’s a crossroads that students often take lightly which costs them later on in their life which is why we recommend that by the time they are done with their Matric exams, they should be sure of which field they have an interest in and want to pursue as the subjects they opt for in intermediate (FSc, ICOM, ICS, FA) will automatically determine which universities/degrees they will be able to pursue for higher education. One of the primary issues we see in Matric students is their failure to recognize where they would fit best and instead deciding based on peer pressure. We want our readers to have a clear vision about where they want to end up at this essential crossroads which is why we have provided you some insight of what you should consider while making this decision:
The question may appear generic to many, but it is perhaps the biggest factor you should take into account. Often students have no idea of which field they find most mentally stimulating because their learning has been exam oriented rather than focused on concept building. If you are facing a similar situation, it might be useful to look at your performance in subjects over the past couple of years. A subject in which you have been consistently scoring well may be the field of study you have a natural inclination towards.
This question should be the natural progression if you’ve found the answer to the previous query. Doing well in a subject might not necessarily mean that you may want to pursue it on a professional level. For example, Ijaz who has been a star student in maths has been able to score well in a subject simply because his family lays great emphasis on practice, but he has never found math to be too interesting. Instead, he’s fascinated by arts, which he’s always considered a creative outlet. Unfortunately, in our society we are well aware of social pressures which steer millions of students into fields they have no affinity towards but instead join disciplines they are ‘expected’ to follow due to our norms and family interests. We advise our students to always give value to their own preferences as it becomes hard to follow through with something for the rest of your life if you have some reservations to begin with.
Another factor that needs to be considered is the practicality of the field you are looking to land in. It is entirely possible for you to have an interest and be talented in a field, but it may have very little value as a profession. It’s a common saying that if you are skilled enough in a field you will find a way to make it into a profession but having a contingency plan or safety net at hand is compulsory for all those looking to secure their future.
If you are still not clear or feel conflicted about where you should be headed, it’s not the end of the world. Plenty of students face the same dilemma, in fact it’s common for students to switch fields even after intermediate! Such decisions should be made with a relaxed mind and all things considered, this might take time, but all meaningful choices do.
August 4th, 2021
